MJAS

Manuscript Details

**Optimum protein requirement for the growth of Jelawat fish (Leptobabrbus hoevenii)**

Farahiyah, I.J.*, Zainal Abidin, A.R., Ahmad, A. and Wong, H.K.

Animal Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI), Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2017 20(2): 39-46

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A study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of juvenile Jelawat fish, <i>Leptobarbus hoevenii</i>, fed 4 levels of crude protein (CP): 25, 32, 38 and 44% with isocaloric diets of 15.20 MJ/kg. All experimental feeds were formulated using digestible protein values of local feedstuffs; namely poultry offal meal, palm kernel expeller and rice bran. The fish were reared in 1000-litre circular polytanks with 3 replicates with 50 fish per replicate per diet. The feeding trial was conducted for 168 d from fingerling stage of 7.62 cm to 25.40 cm in size. Fish fed 38% CP showed the best growth performance in terms of weight gain (39.86 g), feed conversion ratio (1.70) and specific growth rate (0.72) but were not significantly different (P>0.05) from fish fed  32% and 44%. Lower protein levels used in the experimental diets resulted in lower performance of the Jelawat fish. The lowest protein efficiency ratio (PER) was found in fish fed with 44% CP, and as the protein level in the diet increased, the PER value decreased. Feed formulated with 38% CP was found to be the optimum protein level needed for the growth of Jelawat fish.